WESLEY CHAPEL — A road-rage incident on Monday ended with one driver rear-ending the other and dousing her with pepper spray, authorities said.

Michelle Cantrell, 42, blamed the other driver for the incident and said she used the pepper spray in self-defense, a Pasco County Sheriff's Office report states.

The spat began on Cactus Needle Lane, when Crystal Serrano, 21, drove around a parked post office truck and veered into another lane, forcing Cantrell to drive off the road. The sheriff's report says both women made rude hand gestures at each other and Cantrell turned around and followed Serrano.

Cantrell rear-ended Serrano at a stop sign, authorities said. Cantrell said Serrano stopped with no warning, giving Cantrell no time to avoid the crash. Both women got out of their cars and argued, with Cantrell using her pepper spray as Serrano attempted to call 911, the report states. Cantrell told investigators she used the spray in self-defense after Serrano threatened to punch her.

Cantrell, of 37822 Newal Ave. in Zephyrhills, was arrested and charged with battery. She was released from the Pasco jail Monday on $500 bail.